Final answer:
The coin in question is likely a platinum eagle, which is a high-value collector's item made of the transition metal platinum. Transition metals like platinum and iron have unique properties and are used in various applications from electronics to monetary systems due to their ability to form compounds with different oxidation states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transition metal being described is likely platinum, a metal that vastly exceeds the value of five cents. In the context of coins, the platinum eagle is a collector's item worth far more than its face value. This coin contains a significant amount of platinum, distinguishing it from more common coins like the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter. Transition metals like platinum are found in groups 3-12 of the periodic table and are known for their economic value, particularly in monetary systems. Some transition metals are used in electronics, while others serve as catalysts in chemical reactions or are integral in batteries like zinc.
Transition metals are characterized by their ability to form compounds with variable oxidation states. For example, iron, another typical transition metal, can exist in the 2+ or 3+ ionic state. The properties of transition metals include being hard, high-melting solids, and having the ability to conduct heat and electricity, form alloys, and lose electrons to form cations. They also form stable coordination compounds as the metal acts as a Lewis acid, accepting electrons from Lewis bases.